There is a unique spirit that binds and identifies us as Americans; it manifested itself on September 12, 2001, the day after the WTC terrorist attack, at the funeral of President John F. Kennedy and at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. It embodies a sense of identity and purpose nurtured by our respect and affirmation of the Constitution and all that it implies. However, our government and representatives have ignored and dismissed some of the principles that have protected and guided us and diluted that unifying spirit. Both political parties have violated our trust and hope we have lost our reason and common sense.

Is it reasonable for politicians to “loan” trillions of dollars of our money to banks and institutions and not tell us to whom, why or disclose the terms? Is it reasonable for politicians to rail against pork projects and earmarks and then pass the largest budget in the history of the world including billions of dollars of pork without debate and without having read it? Is it reasonable for politicians on the verge of imposing “cap and trade” taxes and regulations stifle scientists and censor skeptics who challenge Al Gore’s inconvenient truth? Is it reasonable for politicians to ban secret ballots for workers when history confirms the lack of secret ballots are the hallmark every dictator and tyrannical regime on the planet?

What will it take to regenerate our faculties of reason and common sense and revive the quintessential American ideal of individual rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Thomas Jefferson asked “What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”